But first, we learned more than we could ever hope to know about the Originals — including the potential key to killing Klaus!

I hope you all watched the Nov. 3 episode of The Vampire Diaries with your notebooks handy because it was a dense history lesson, complete with confusing words, revelatory flashbacks, and one very epic scene involving Damon (Ian Somerhalder), Elena (Nina Dobrev) and a bed. I think you know where this is going.

Let’s start with all the insane new things we learned about the Original family via the lovely Rebekah. Don’t worry, I’ll be showering Claire Holt with endless praise later in the recap, but for now, let’s focus on the facts:

>>> Not only is Mikael (Sebastian Roché) a member of the Original family, but he’s actually Rebekah and Elijah’s father!

>>> And while we’re on the subject of the Original parents, the mother Esther (Alice Evans) was also the original witch! Yes, the same original witch who put the hybrid curse on Klaus (Joseph Morgan.)

>>> This leads me to the next shocker: Mikael didn’t kill Esther, as Rebekah has believed up to this point — Klaus did!

>>> Lastly, Daniel Gilliesis apparently jacked. He looked tiny in his little suits last season, but the sleeves came off this week, and he looked nothing short of Elijah the Barbarian. The longer hair worked for him too. In fact, I dare say he’s the only character on the show who actually looks better in the flashbacks — a controversial statement, I know.

OK, now for that Claire Holt praise I promised. I already had a pretty strong affinity for Barbie Klaus before this week’s episode, but Claire absolutely knocked it out of the park this week. Not only did she remain adorable and hilarious as a centuries-old high school cheerleader, but her dramatic scenes reduced me to a sopping wet Andy puddle. I’m really hoping she sticks around for the long haul. Like, really really really REALLY hoping!

But it wasn’t all about the Originals this week, as there’s still plenty of drama going on in the present day. Damon decided he’d had enough of Stefan’s (Paul Wesley) vampire rehab, so he let his little brother free and took him out for some family bonding. It was good to see old Stefan back, even if only for a little bit, but I’m sure Klaus’ return next week will derail his progress.

The episode ended, as all episodes should, with a super-romantic scene between Damon and Elena in the only setting appropriate for those two — a bed. And while there wasn’t any kissing to speak of, there was plenty of pillow talk, which works for me. And you know the first scene of next week’s episode is going to start with the two of them waking up in bed together. Maybe with Stefan walking in on them?